So, when I was a child, my family and attended a first free will Baptist church. I attended a Christian school. We were a happy Christian family. We had our Bible studies and ate at the dinner table. We were all very close to the lord and each other. My mother decided she couldn’t live the Christian life anymore and decided to divorce my dad.
After the divorce I had to live with my mom, for the most part. I was 7 when we stopped going to church. Let’s fast forward some…I am now 14. I had turned away from the Lord and had been attending public school. I had started smoking cigarettes, drinking adult beverages, and smoking pot.
Fast forward… I am now 17 at this point. I am smoking a pack a day and if I wasn’t in school I was drunk and smoking pot. I also started to try mushrooms at this point in my life. I had lost my virginity and my first tattoo was just around the corner.
Fast forward…It is now a little before Christmas 2021. It was a Saturday night. I had been drinking, smoking, and life was a ball…or I thought so. I was in a sinful relationship, and really felt like I didn’t have a care in the world. I had gotten my hands on some magic mushrooms and I ate them. I had done them multiple times and thought it was just another night. I ended up eating more mushrooms than I had ever eaten. Now, this is where people say, “you had a bad trip”…”it’s all in your head”…and things like this. Yes, I had a bad trip…yes. I ended up seeing things I didn’t want to see. I felt so alone. I had my ex asleep next to me; people downstairs below me. I felt so alone. I felt hot and I felt evil enter the room. I felt like Satan and his demons were there. Everything crashed at this point. I got up and walked over to my “10 Commandments” plaque my grandparents gave to me. I dropped to my knees and prayed.
I asked the Lord to forgive me. I asked for his help and told him how I messed up. I begged him. I begged him to forgive me. I’m telling you, I heard a voice; like it was loud but far away at the same time; “If you hear me and are listening and I mean listening, then go, leave this house and leave it for good.” Maybe it was the mushrooms…maybe it was something just placed on my heart, but I can still hear that voice when I think about it. After I prayed, I was dropped off at my families house and I kid you not, about 10 minutes later I was sober. I only had taken my plaque, my Bible, and some water. I don’t remember grabbing any of it.
I separated from my ex after 6 years of being with her; 5 engaged. I gave my life to the Lord as a grown man on January 9, 2022. I did try to have my ex come with me to church, but I saw the yolk before my eyes- I left. I no longer smoke, or drink alcohol. I do not do mushrooms or smoke pot. Ever since I gave my life to the Lord…the old man I once was has died. I am so thankful for that.
Fast forward…I am 35 years old. I thank the Lord for his forgiveness, his patience, his love, and so much more. I don’t mind what it took to get me back in his grace. I am so thankful. I had had felt like I was at hells gate that night. People can say what they will and it’s fine…but I am no longer him…he is dead and I am reborn. I am a child of God. Fun fact, the church I attend now was my childhood church :). The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Ending with a prayer. Dear Lord, thank you for pulling me up out of my sinful life, thank you for showing me mercy. Lord I pray others too will turn from their sins and come forward to you. Please knock upon the hearts of others, Lord. I pray they will open the door and let you in Christ. I thank you and praise you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
God bless you and thank you for reading.
Jacob